The Mòdis a huge, much-loved festival which has brought the focus of Scotland and Gaelic music lovers across the world to Stornoway. It takes years of planning to achieve this and they have done a fantastic job.”

The eight-day festival is famous for celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage and provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature.

Councillor Lorraine Cameron, Renfrewshire Council’s Education Convener, said: “There is a fantastic atmosphere here and it’s great to see the whole community getting involved, which is how we want the Paisley Mòd to be in 2013.

“It will be important for us to bring our communities together to ensure that the first ever Paisley Mòd is a success. It will be particularly exciting for local schoolchildren to learn more about the Mòd and the Gaelic cultural heritage in the lead up to and during the festival.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, chair of Meur Phàislig, said: “We are delighted at the positive response we have received from the Gaelic community at large and have recently set up the local organising committee to get preparations underway for 2013.”

“Bringing the Royal National Mòd to Paisley will provide a wonderful focus on the language and help us to develop wider awareness and participation locally. Local Gaelic classes are already popular and we have witnessed the success of local groups, such as Sonas and Clann Gaidhlig, which are going from strength to strength. “

This will be the first time Paisley has hosted the national Mòd. The town will follow on from Stornoway in 2011 and Dunoon in 2012.